2024 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Adds Practicality but Keeps Its Stunning Design

• The AMG GT Coupe returns!
• It offers additional practicality thanks to new rear seats and a larger cargo area.
• Twin-turbo V8 remains, offering 476 horsepower in the AMG GT 55 and 585 hp in the AMG GT 63.
• The new interior features a 11.9-inch touchscreen and improved visibility.

Mercedes-AMG was very clear to point out that two common requests were for back seats and a trunk capable of holding more luggage or the dreaded golf bag. Visibility was also mentioned as a pain point and we had one of our own: the dated infotainment system.

We had the privilege to sit in an early production version of the GT Coupe and can say that a happy medium has been struck. First, if you think these back seats are fit for adults, you're mistaken. These really are 911-spec rear seats, and Mercedes even admits they're best for people just under 5 feet in height. Even then, you'd have to be sitting behind someone of a similar stature to fit. For most people, these rear seats will serve as additional interior storage for laptop bags, jackets, workout gear, etc. And if you opt for the top-tier AMG GT 63 — which gets you the more powerful engine and an all-around more serious performance experience — the rear seats can be removed altogether.

As for the visibility, the addition of small rear windows has made a huge difference when you glance over your shoulder when changing lanes. The slightly higher seating position and shorter hood have also benefited forward visibility.

As for in-car tech, any replacement of the old COMAND unit would have been an improvement. As it stands, the 11.9-inch portrait touchscreen is a massive step forward even if it dominates most of the interior. Incorporating the far more modern MBUX system, the GT Coupe finally offers many of the same features and ease of use as other Mercedes products. We think that most buyers will appreciate this improvement as much as, if not more than, the new back seats.

Eight cylinders of fury

We admit that we feared for the sanctity of the tried-and-true 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8. After all, if the AMG C 63 can lose its legendary powerplant, would the GT Coupe be safe? The answer is a resounding yes. There are two flavors of the AMG GT Coupe: 55 4Matic+ and 63 4Matic+. In the 55, the engine makes 469 horsepower and a robust 516 lb-ft of torque. If you opt for the 63, you'll get 577 hp and a stout 590 lb-ft of torque — more than what was available on the legendary AMG GT R. Both trims feature a nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

All-wheel drive might come at the expense of some handling purity, but it will no doubt serve to put the 4.0-liter V8's tremendous power to the ground much more efficiently. The all-wheel-drive system is fully variable thanks to an electromechanically controlled center differential that's capable of sending up to 50% of the power to the front axle or dumping all of it onto the rear wheels in the name of raw, unadulterated hooliganism. As good as the traction and stability control system was in the last GT Coupe, having all-wheel drive to lean on will undoubtedly make this new version faster and more accessible to the average driver.

As a bonus — or just common sense on something so fast — carbon-ceramic brakes are standard on both GT Coupe models. Sporting six-piston calipers and measuring 15.4 inches up front and 14.2 inches in the rear with simple one-piston calipers, we doubt most drivers will ever find the limits of these brakes.

Trick suspension is included

As a famous Italian tire manufacturer once said, "Power is nothing without control." The new GT Coupe gets a suspension setup that we can best describe as complicated. Forged aluminum suspension components adorn both the front and rear axle, and adaptive dampers reside at all four wheels. Connected to one another through hydraulic lines, the dampers serve to not only deal with individual wheel impacts but also take the place of traditional anti-roll bars with more instantaneous effect.

The suspension's behavior is controlled by the selected drive mode and can work to smooth out city roads as effectively as it maintains wheel camber during extreme cornering loads. That hydraulic control is also extended to the standard front-axle lift system capable of raising the nose by 30 mm to clear speed bumps or steep driveways. Rear-axle steering is standard on both models and does double duty in making the GT Coupe both more nimble and more stable depending on speed and condition.

The takeaway

If you haven't seen the previous-generation GT Coupe for a while, you'd be hard-pressed to notice any difference with the new model. Yes, the hood is shorter, and yes, the engine is moved forward a bit. But the styling is smoother, more refined and no less muscular than the previous version. There are similarities to the Porsche 911 in profile, but since both are 2+2 sports cars of similar size and purpose, what else would you expect?

Photos, as good as they are, simply don't do the front and rear fenders justice. They are huge and make the GT Coupe look every bit as aggressive at the outgoing version. Styling is remarkably unfussy, and in our brief time with the preproduction model, we could just as easily see this car driving down the 405 freeway as we could in full race livery pounding around the Nürburgring. It's tough but not the least bit cartoonish.

Edmunds says

Despite our reservations, the 2024 Mercedes-AMG GT Coupe looks to carry the torch lit by its predecessor. Breathe a sigh of relief — at first glance the new GT Coupe looks to have incorporated practical and technical improvements without losing grip on its exaggerated styling and nutty performance. We can't wait to see what it's like to get one on the road and our test track.